Completed Projects

The Centre for Policy and Governance (CPU) and Heinrich Böll Stiftung BiH (HBS) have launched the EUROAD initiative. The aim of the initiative is to contribute to the ongoing debate on short and mid term European integration perspectives for Bosnia and Herzegovina; both on a local and European level. This goal will be accomplished through creation and promotion of constructive solutions in this area. The EUROAD promotes the involvement of independent analysts, civil society representatives, and the think tank community in debates on the European future of the country.

Project duration: January – December, 2010.

Based on round tables and meetings held within the EUROAD Initiative, the EUROAD Policy Note has been composed. The note contains recommendations from local analysts for possible strategy of international community toward BiH in the following period.

The Centre for Policy and Governance (CPU) and National Endowment for Democracy (NED) have initiated the project “Policy Monitoring Index”. The goal of the project is to assess efficiency of policy implementation processes at various government levels in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Through regular monitoring and review of the public policymaking and implementation processes, CPU will provide better insight into government activities. CPU will also conduct extensive media outreach activities to promote the results of its finding.

Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) has started with implementation of the project “Municipal Solid Waste Management Program in BiH”, where the Centre for Policy and Governance (CPU) is monitoring the project implementation. Planned activities within the project include analyzing program documents, monitoring implementation of work plan and activities, assessing weather municipalities fully understand and are ready to fulfil all terms of the cooperation, and monitoring accomplishment of all milestones and predefined outcomes.

The Centre for Policy and Governance (CPU) and Method Consulting have created the study "ROAD TO RECOVERY: Effects of the Economic Crisis and Mid-term Development Perspectives in EU and BiH".

The main objective of the document is to inform general public and decision makers on the effects of the economic crisis in the EU countries and BiH, as well as on the sets of planned and undertaken measures with the goal of finding a way out of the crisis in the EU and BiH. The document contains a set of comprehensive recommendations aimed at improving the existing measures in BiH, in addition to the measures which will have effects on the mid-term development perspectives of the country.

The Centre for Policy and Governance (CPU) is in the process of creating the White paper for encouraging innovation and creativity in primary schools in BiH. The goal of this research project is to identify the main deficiencies and obstacles for achieving higher-quality environment that supports innovation and creativity within the students, which will be attained through analysis of current situation in primary education. The second goal of the project is to propose strategic directions for enabling primary schools to develop creativity and innovation skills within the students. Creation of this paper is supported by Open Society Fund BiH.

Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) has started with implementation of the project “Municipal Solid Waste Management Program in BiH”, where the Centre for Policy and Governance (CPU) is monitoring the project implementation. Planned activities within the project include analyzing program documents, monitoring implementation of work plan and activities, assessing weather municipalities fully understand and are ready to fulfil all terms of the cooperation, and monitoring accomplishment of all milestones and predefined outcomes.

Within the programme "Road to Recovery", the Centre for policy and governance is continuing its cooperation with National Endowment for Democracy (NED) on the project “Policy Monitoring Index”, which was implemented last year.

While the previous project assessed policies implementation progress in the sectors of energy, human capital and private sector development for the past four-years in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the new one will provide deeper or more specific insight into the three examined areas plus into additional sector of EU integration, and give recommendations to the newly formed government as to what are optimal activities and policies which should be undertaken in order to progress notably in the aforementioned sectors. Project findings and recommendations will be promoted and presented to the public through various activities.

CPU will continue to promote the project, public debate on policies affecting the country’s democratic transition and EU integration, and advocate for their implementation.

The Center for Policy and Governance (CPU) will use renewed Endowment support to continue promoting public debate on policies affecting Bosnia and Herzegovina’s democratic transition and EU integration. Through an analysis and a review of public policymaking and implementation processes, the CPU will initiate an open debate about and solicit expert input on specific policies of major importance for the country’s EU accession. The CPU will produce policy papers and conduct a series of outreach activities to advocate for the implementation of its recommendations.

In May 2013, Centre for Policy and Governance started with implementation of the project Implementation of BH Law on State Aid and better distribution of grants. The project will last until February 2014. Key activities: development of analyses and policy paper, several round table for all interested parties in the process. The round tables will be held in Sarajevo, Mostar and Banja Luka.

Implementation of this project has been enabled by the generous support of the American people through the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo. All views, opinions and conclusions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the position of the U.S. Embassy or the U.S. Government, but only author's.

Within the project „Promoting political accountability and democratic development by advocating evidence based policy debates in the election process in BiH“, CPU will support mobilization of civil society in Bosnia and Herzegovina (including media), with an aim to advocate for more political accountability, by initiating and promoting social and economic policy debates before and after the elections. By creating situational analyses in defined sectors (energetics, competitiveness, employment), CPU will enable NGOs and media to initiate pre-election debates based on evidence and concrete solutions in mentioned areas.

We want to encourage discussions concerning the resolution of the economic and social challenges such as unemployment, state-building, privatization and market development, and the process of integration to the EU and NATO. After the elections, we will advocate for coalitions based on similar ideologies / programmes and monitor the implementation of policies and programs of the new government.

This project is supported by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

Under the project “Monitoring of the implementation of the Compact for Growth and Jobs“, CPU will continuously be promoting and advocating the implementation of reform measures as defined in the Compact. We will also offer professional opinion and support of its experts all with the aim to create an atmosphere in which public officials will constantly be reminded of reform priorities. CPU will be advocating a transparent and responsible implementation of reforms which are of public interest and which can leave an impact on the economy. The enactment of new ones and re-amendments of the existing law and bylaw acts, which shall regulate work taxation, administrative barriers in business startup, creating of the all-encompassing enterprise registers and social protection system, is what we find especially important. We will be offering relevant analyses, which shall leave space for reform acting to decision makers. Finally, we will be working on providing space for the economic questions and challenges to get public attention through intensive cooperation with media.

The Center for Policy and Governance (CPU) will continue promoting public debate on policies affecting Bosnia and Herzegovina’s democratic transition. Through analyzing public policymaking and implementation processes, the CPU will promote open debate on specific policies of major importance for the country’s development, while simultaneously holding decision-makers accountable for their implementation. The CPU will organize 10 public, evidence-based debates titled “ReForum” that will focus on solutions offered by the Reform Agenda – a blueprint for socio-economic reforms developed by the government and the international community.

In light of the country’s 2014 social unrest, a renewed Euro-Atlantic focus on socio-economic reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina is particularly important, given that a lack of such reforms was at the root of the social dissatisfaction against the political establishment. The CPU will therefore continue to monitor and assess plans, activities, and progress made by the government under the Reform Agenda.

PUBLICATIONS

The analysis shows research on how the banking sector in B&H can improve economic growth, and how sector reforms contained in the Extended Fund Facility program with IMF can influence on credit expansion and the stability of the financial sector.

No matter the destiny of the IMF arrangement, for the final finding of the solution when it comes to BH Telecom, it is necessary to conduct the due diligence analysis and to agree upon a plan of future work of BH Telecom as soon as possible.

This analysis suggests few steps aiming to halt the decrease of the average class size in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and points out the necessity of shifting the focus on teachers' competencies and qualities as a precondition for better education.

The analysis of 'The Advantages of TIMSS Introduction into BiH Educational System' contains conclusions and recommendations for its implementation and suggests that regular conduction of TIMSS is necessary, since this kind of international testing enables continuous monitoring and comparison with other systems and provides a clear picture on what has to be done.